Clasps



United States Patent O M' 3,275,362 CLASPS Martin Jacobson, Providence,RJ., assignor to Rau Findings Company, Providence, RJ., a corporation ofRhode Island Filed July 2S, 1964, Ser. No. 385,616 9 Claims. (Cl.292-204) This invention relates to improvements in fastening devices andis more particularlarly concerned with a novel clasp having novel springmounted latch means and of ya type especially useful for securing a flapon a hand-bag or :the like in closed position.

Purses, handbags and like articles usually are provided on the body-thereof with a clasp that includes a spring controlled latch elementwhich is passed, while in an open or raised position, through an openingin the cover or ap and subsequently moved into .a closed or latchingposition to prevent withdrawal of the ap. Known types of claspconstruction involve the use of separate mounting means for the latchelement and the association with it of -a separate spring means operableto retain the latch in open or closed positions. Such structures havethe disadvantage or requiring costly assembly operations of a multitudeof parts.

In accordance with the present invention the latch element is hingedlyconnected directly to the spring element which in turn mounts the latchelement on an attaching body. The present structure and assembly hasmany advantages not known to be present in prior known structures. Theassembly requires a minimum of parts that are easily and quicklyassembled and secured in assembled position. It is rugged in itsconstruction.

It is :therefore an object of the invention to provide a novellyconstructed clasp structure.

Another object is to provide a clasp with a novelly mounted latchelement.

Another `object of the invention is to provide a clasp with a novelspring construction.

Another object is to provide a clasp with a novelly assembled latchelement and spring assembly.

The structure by means of which the above noted and other .advantagesand objects of the invention are attained will be described in thefollowing specification, taken in conjunction with the yaccompanyingdrawings, showing a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention,in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of an exemplary hand bag showing theimproved clasp mounted thereon.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the clasp, takensubstantially Valong lin-e 2-2 of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is `an enlarged horizontal sectional view, taken substantiallyalong line 3--3 of FIG 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective View of the spring element.

Referring to the exemplary disclosure in the accompanying drawings, theclasp 11 is adapted to be mounted on the front wall 12 of .a hand bag orlike article. It lincludes a mounting body 13 upon which is pivotallymounted a latch element 14 that is adapted to be extended through lahole 15 in the flap 16 of the hand bag and then pivoted approximately 90so as to overlie the Hap and prevent it from being opened.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the mounting body 13 is fabricated fromstiff sheet metal and it includes a front wall 17 and rearwardlyextending side walls 18 and end walls 19. The end walls each carry ontheir free edges a piercing prong 21 that is projected through the frontwall 12 of the hand bag and clinched to secure the body thereto. Thefront wall 17 of the body is provided with a pair of longitudinallyspaced openings 22.

A spring element 23 is arranged within mounting body 13 and it has itsends 24 bent normal to the plane of its Patented Sept. 27, 1966 ICCintermediate portion 25 so as to be projected outwardly one through eachopening 22. Specifically, the spring `element 23, which is best shown inFIG. 4, comprises a strip of hard brass bent to provide intermediatebody portion 25 and two end portions 24 bent normal thereto. Preferably,the body portion 25 is bowed rearwardly and then forwardly in thedirection of the end portions to provide bowed end areas 26 and thestretch between said areas 26 is bowed rearwardly slightly as shown andhas a pair of detent projections 27 therein which bear against the backface of the front wall 17. The projecting ends 24 are apertured as at28.

The latch element 14 may be of any general overall configuration butpreferably is in the form of a substantially U-shaped member yand ismade of cast or stamped metal so as to be very strong and rigid. The endportions or legs 31 of the U-shaped member have a at side face 32 andare substantially `square on their terminal ends, as at 33, and eachterminal is apertured, as at 34.

To assemble, the apertured legs 31 of the U-shaped latch element arematched one with each projecting end 24 of the spring, and pivot pins 35are driven through the aligned apertures 28, 34 of each assemblyso asrto hingedly connect the latch element with the spring ends. This-assembly is such :that the spring normally urges the flat or squaredsurfaces 32 or 33 of the latch element firmly against the front wall 17of body 13.

In use, the spring element 23 normally holds the latch element projectedoutwardly from the mounting body 13 whereupon :the latch element 14 canbe projected through the hole 15 in flap 16. The latch element isthereupon swung about about the pivot pins 35. When in this position,the side faces 32 of the latch terminals bear firmly yagainst the frontwall of the mounting body to secure the latch element in the folded downposition shown in FIG. 1 under tension of spring element 23.

Although I have described la preferred embodiment of my invention, inconsiderable detail, it will be understood that the description thereofis intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many detailsof the structure may be modified or changed without departing from thespirit or scope of rthe invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to berestricted to the exact construction described and shown.

I claim:

1. A clasp comprising a box-like body open at its bottom and having afront wall, said front wall having spaced apertures therein, a leafspring seated against the inside face of said front wall, end portionsIon said spring disposed normal to the main body portion thereof andextending one through each aperture, a latch element arranged outsidethe front wall and hingedly connected to Vthe said spring end portions,and means on said latch element to retain the latch element -in laplurality of hinged positions under :tension of said spring.

2. A clasp comprising a hollow body having a front wall `and side andend walls depending from said front wall, said fnont wall having spacedapertures therein, a leaf spring seated against the inside face of saidfront wall, end portions of said spring disposed normal to the main bodyportion thereof and extending one through each aperture, a latch elementarranged outside the front Wall and hingedly connected to both of saidspring end portions, and means on said latch element to retain the latchelement in a plurality of pivotal positions under tension of saidspring.

3. A clasp comprising a hollow body having a substantially flat frontwall, said front wall having spaced apertures therein, a leaf springdisposed on the inside face of said front wall, end portions on saidspring extending normal to the main portion thereof and extending toutwardly through said apertures, a latch element hingedly connected tosaid spring end portions, and means on the latch element to cooperatewith the front wall to retain the latch element in a plurality ofpositions under tension of said spring. Y

4. The clasp recited in claim 3, in which the spring is bowed .away fromthe front wall in areas immediately adjacent to the end portionsthereof.

5. The clasp recited in claim 3, in which Vthe spring has projectionsthereon to hold it spaced from the front wall.

6. The clasp recited in claim 3, in which thelatch element has atsurfaces tocoact with the front wall.

7. A clasp comprising a latch element and a body, and spring meansretained in said body and having a part thereof extending from said bodyswingably connected directly toI said klatch element to resilientlyretain the latch element against the body and ina selected one ofseveral positions of adjustments. 8.` In a clasp, a spring element forholding a latch in position against a supporting body comprising anelon-` gated strip `of metal having its end portions extended in acommon direction normal to the general plane of the intermediate portionthereof and having means to accommodate latch-attachment means, and saidintermediate portion being bowed in the direction of said end portionsin areas adjacent to said end portions for `resilient engagement withthe supporting body.

9; In the clasp recited in claim 8, in which 4the inter, mediate portionis bowed slightly between the bowed end areas thereof.

f References Cited by the Examiner v UNITED STATES PATENTS 303,716 8/1884 Flocke 292,204 X 675,242k 5/ 1901 Prahar.` Y 1,225,950 Y5/ 1917Ruller 292--204` 1,710,319 5/ 1929 Osbeck' 292-204'X 3,065,985 11/ 1962DuFour --.292.-204 X y y FOREIGN PATENTS 330,264 8/1903 France.

461,343 8/ 1928 Germany,y

EDWARD C. ALLEN, Primary Examiner.

RICHARDY E. MOORE, Emminer.` Y

1. A CLASP COMPRISING A BOX-LIKE BODY OPEN AT ITS BOTTOM AND HAVING AFRONT WALL, SAID FRONT WALL HAVING SPACED APERTURES THEREIN, A LEAFSPRING SEATED AGAINST THE INSIDE FACE OF SAID FRONT WALL, END PORTIONSON SAID SPRING DISPOSED NORMAL TO THE MAIN BODY PORTION THEREOF ANDEXTENDING ONE THROUGH EACH APERTURE, A LATCH ELEMENT ARRANGED OUTSIDETHE FRONT WALL AND HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE SAID SPRING END PORTIONS,AND MEANS ON SAID LATCH ELEMENT TO RETAIN THE LATCH ELEMENT IN APLURALITY OF HINGED POSITIONS UNDER TENSION OF SAID SPRING